DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 109 
At this place the missionary began the work of 
conversion, which seems to have consisted in the 
mere manual operation of baptism. As soon as he 
arrived, the makolonte, or chief, sent round the 
libatte, ordering all the inhabitants to bring their 
children, that they might undergo that operation. 
They came in considerable numbers ; and it was 
expected, it seems, that each should bring some 
present " by way of alms," in return for so great 
a spiritual benefit. Two handkerchiefs, 3500 cow- 
zies, or a fat pullet, formed the usual gifts. Those, 
however, who had nothing to give, " were chris- 
tened for God's sake." Two masses were then 
said, and catechetical instructions given, after which 
the people began to celebrate the occasion, " by 
playing on various instruments, that they might be 
heard half a league off." 
The chief circumstance by which the journey is 
diversified, appears to be the peril and alarm from 
the approach of wild beasts. Our auther felt no 
small trepidation, when, lying asleep in his ham- 
mock, in one of the libattes, he heard, on the other 
side of the hedge, three great lions, " roaring that 
they made the earth shake." Happily the hedge 
proved too high for them ; and Carli, in the morn- 
ing, finding that his companion's rest had been un- 
disturbed, warmly congratulated him on his escape, 
since otherwise, " he might have gone to hea- 
ven, without knowing which way." Soon after, as 
